The Walking Dead s08e12 Episode Script

The Key

1
Previously on AMC's
"The Walking Dead"
- Light it up now!
- [SCAVENGERS SCREAMING]
[GUNSHOTS]
So, tell me how it went.
Standard message and delivery.
Carl's dead.
That kid was the future.
The only future is
one where you're dead.
MAN: Yeah. Yeah, lead the way, D.
NEGAN: Hilltop is gonna learn
to toe the line one way or another.
Dead or alive.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
[CLEARS THROAT]
Welcome home, Dwighty boy.
I gotta say,
it is damn good having you back.
See, things gotta get done.
I need my top guys out
in front acing that shit.
Thanks.
Had yourself a close call,
I hear.
I got ambushed.
I took this.
The rest didn't walk away.
Well, until
I got to the woods, kept going.
You know, I headed toward Hilltop.
I figured our people would be
putting up a blockade sooner or later.
Good job.
But we pulled the blockade.
Have to let the mice play a little,
'cause, you know
our people need to get
their business in order.
You'll see.
So, why don't you just slug a beer,
put on your best vest, and
get your ass downstairs,
'cause like I said
We got work.
[WALKER GROWLING]
[GURGLING]
NEGAN: Get 'em good.
It's all right if they spill out.
I'm gonna gather up the
jackpots for refreshers,
and guts is guts.
Push it in nice and deep.
That's the stuff.
Holy damn!
This is gonna be all kinds of awesome.
Once the Hilltop just feels the
tip of what we are packin'
[LAUGHS]
they are gonna drop to
their knees lickety-split.
SIMON: Yes, sir. Ha ha.
[WALKERS GROWLING]
SIMON: Listen up!
Today is about scaring these people.
We're not going for head
shots, just flesh wounds.
Hit a few, leave 'em
livin', let 'em turn.
But don't kill 'em.
D.
Negan's handling his own transport,
so you can ride with me.
Well, I'm gonna scout ahead,
see if anything's coming our way.
Well, considerate thought,
but we got scouts scouting, right?
[CHUCKLES]
Far more expendable soldiers than you,
which is not to say you're
expendable at all.
Listen, ride with me,
we make sure you're up
to speed on the plan.
It's what Negan wants,
so I don't know why we're still jawing.
He says, we do.
[ENGINE STARTS]
[ENGINE STARTS]
[TAPS DOOR]
[WALKERS GROWLING IN DISTANCE]
[ENGINE STARTS]
[WALKERS GROWLING]
You look beautiful, baby.
[DOOR CREAKING]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]
[HAMMER CLANGING]
Come here, sweetheart.
Yeah.
[SMOOCHES]
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
You know, I
I look around and
I think about the
people that are gone
and the people that are still here.
It ain't right.
And it ain't fair.
Look, about
what I did at Sanctuary,
trying to end it real quick
I just wanted it done.
I didn't want to give
them another chance,
not again.
And I didn't care who was there.
I don't know if that
makes it right or
It does.
I didn't want to risk
killing innocent people.
I should've just been worrying
about our people.
Hell with anyone else.
We'll keep fighting
Until you're ready.
I'm ready.
Maggie's got lookouts out there.
Every half-mile,
waiting to signal each other, I know.
Yeah. I'm going, too.
To make sure we're all ready.
I'll go with you.
We should split up.
We're covering as much ground as we can.
All right.
I'm okay.
Yeah?
Okay.
I'm gonna be okay.
Daryl
Thank you
For getting them here.
Think he'll come back from this?
Have you come back?
I just keep going.
Yeah.
They will, too.
It'll be harder after we finish this,
when it's quiet.
Not if Negan's dead.
Not for me, at least.
Not for me, either.
What do you make of this, D?
This?
This. Our little road trip?
Opportunity to close.
Nothing wrong with that.
[SCOFFS]
Come on, D.
Let's rap here.
Let's get candid.
Let's get weird.
There's nobody here but us chickens.
Top guy to top guy,
I just want to know
if, in your analysis,
you believe these people
are gonna cower and cave
after we deliver what amounts
to yet another warning.
- Don't get paid to think.
- Not true.
Not true.
I value your perspective, Dwight.
You've been on both sides of the iron.
Well, if you're not gonna answer,
let me extemporaneously express
that I have my doubts
this little maneuver
is going to deliver the desired outcome.
You think we should do it different?
No. No, no.
Not at all.
The big man's plan will get it done,
no question.
We've thrown a lot at Rick,
the widow, the King,
and they just keep
coming, keep fighting
You've seen it, I've seen it.
Tallying it up, I keep
seeing the same answer
They don't scare.
[INSECTS CHIRPING]
[DOOR CREAKS]
[BRAKES SQUEAL, ENGINE SHUTS OFF]
I don't know what the hell it is.
"If you fill the crates with
food or phonograph records,
I will gladly exchange them
for a key to your future"?
It lists coordinates
for our meeting spot.
This isn't the Saviors.
They'd blow through the gates,
make a big show.
This isn't that.
I wouldn't put nothin' past them.
Well, if it is a trap,
it's kind of obvious.
Which is what could make it a trap.
What if
What if it's someone who
actually wants to help?
If someone is trying to
help us and we miss out,
we miss out.
If somebody's trying to kill us,
we die.
Not if we're careful.
Being careful is staying here.
I'll go.
- I'll see what's up.
- You go, I go.
- Rick wants us here.
- I know.
But the last time we
took a chance like this,
it changed everything.
Rick didn't agree with me then.
He may not understand me now.
He won't.
But eventually, he will.
He will.
Jesus and the others
have been scavenging,
and we're still starving.
Maybe this person does have
something that can help.
Then, I'm coming with you.
Okay.
I'll grab records, case this is real.
You get extra clips in case it isn't.
MAN: If you see 'em
coming, hit your horn.
That'll start the handoff.
Stick to the plan, don't engage.
[VEHICLES APPROACHING]
[ENGINE STARTS]
[TIRES SCREECHING]
ARAT: The hell was that?
That was Negan's car.
Jesus, it was.
[ENGINE REVVING, TIRES SCREECHING]
Damn it!
You see it?
Yeah, someone pegged him
pegged him good.
Looked like just one guy,
from what I could tell.
- Anyone see which way he went?
- [BRAKES SQUEAL]
Just tell them to pipe down!
Stay icy.
May be more of them out there.
Keep guards up, scan your lane.
We could have company.
[BRAKES SQUEALING]
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF, DOOR OPENS]
Let's go.
Whoa! Stand down.
No runnin' off without a plan.
Car hit Negan's,
pushed him off the road.
They headed that way.
Couldn't have gotten far.
Then, what are we waiting for?
[SIGHS] It was just one driver.
It's nothing Negan
can't handle on his own.
But just in case,
Dwight and I'll go check it out.
- All right, we can back you up and
- No.
This might be a ploy
to divide our forces,
and we're not gonna let that happen,
not when we're so close
to the master stroke.
I turned my truck to make
sure no one comes in this way.
Gary, I want you to do
the same down that end.
You're in charge.
Keep everyone in tight,
create a perimeter,
cut down anything that comes close.
Shall we locate our benefactor?
[MACHINE-GUN FIRE]
[WALKERS GROWLING]
[MACHINE-GUN FIRE CONTINUES]
[WALKERS GROWLING]
[MACHINE-GUN FIRE CONTINUES]
[GROWLING CONTINUES]
[GUN COCKS]
[MACHINE-GUN FIRE]
Hyah! [GRUNTS]
[GUNSHOTS]
[GUNSHOTS]
[WALKERS GROWLING]
[GUN CLICKING]
[LAUGHS]
Hey, prick.
You are out of bullets.
Come on up.
[GRUNTS]
[WOOD CLATTERING]
Lucille!
[WOOD CREAKING]
[GRUNTS]
Oh, you asshole.
[BODY THUDS]
[BRAKES SQUEAL]
MICHONNE: Okay.
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]
My name is Georgie,
and these are my
friends, Hilda and Midge.
And you are?
Suspicious.
But curious enough
to see what I have to
offer for food and music.
I do hope the records are music.
I don't accept spoken word.
If you're out here,
you know you can take
care of yourselves,
and I like that.
I don't care to share
this with the weak.
Good.
Enid.
None for me.
Give us what you have.
I'm afraid I can't do that.
I come bearing knowledge to trade
Essential knowledge for the future,
primarily in my head,
and, uh, I prefer to
keep that where it is.
You're trading knowledge.
That's what I have.
I've made the same offer before
Fill the crates, get the knowledge
Simple as that.
It's not a trick, just a fair trade.
I promise you.
It's an act of benevolence.
Why would you do that?
What else should I do?
Rosita.
[VAN DOOR OPENS]
Uh, what's in there
isn't part of the deal.
There is no deal.
How many communities have you found?
Communities like yours?
Not many at all.
And not one for a very long time.
What you have is special, unusual.
The dead have brought
out our best and worst,
and the worst has been
outpacing the best lately,
but that won't last forever.
It won't.
If, perhaps, people can
believe in people again,
four crates of goods is worth far less
than a sustainable future
and perhaps an exercise in trust.
I know
"trust" probably sounds
like a made-up word now,
like flibberschticky.
Or klompf.
Or moisture.
ENID: Stop.
This isn't real.
No way anyone survives
going around doing what
you say you're doing.
But we do.
And we will, because I can divine
that you are a fine group,
manners notwithstanding.
We can make a deal.
No.
These people and their van
are coming with us back to Hilltop.
[NEGAN WHISTLING]
[LIGHTER CLICKS]
[WALKERS GROWLING IN DISTANCE]
You still alive?
I'm a goddamn cat.
[GROWLING CONTINUES]
[LIGHTER CLICKS]
Come on, baby.
Where are you?
[WALKER GROWLING]
[WOOD CLATTERING]
So, where's your people?
They should be here by now.
We didn't get that far.
Oh, they're coming.
This is where you die
[WALKER GROWLING, THUDDING]
in the dark, all alone.
What the hell is your problem, Rick?
- [WALKER GROWLING, THUDDING]
- Huh?
I mean, I know you're
working through some shit
The worst kind of shit, I know
But if you aren't the most
stubborn know-it-all prick
I've ever crossed dicks with
Why didn't you just
let me save you, Rick?
I'm good at it.
I saved everybody in the Sanctuary,
the Outpost, Hilltop, Kingdom
I saved them all.
- Their kids
- [WALKER GROWLING, THUDDING]
can grow up safe.
They didn't lose one after we took over.
All those people
were doing just fine before Rick Grimes!
[LIGHTER CLICKS]
[MUFFLED WALKERS GROWLING]
[ROD CLANGS]
You've not only failed your boy,
you failed your people, Rick.
Kind of makes me sick
just thinking about it.
All that wasted potential.
But, see, there is still hope for you.
A one-time deal that I will make
in the memory of your bad-ass son,
someone that I actually respected.
You get Hilltop, Kingdom,
Alexandria to fall in line,
and our arrangement is back in place,
and you are forgiven, Rick.
I will lower my take from 50% to 25%
A lousy 25%.
But you, you got to come work for me.
Janitorial to start Not bad at all.
Your people,
they get to live like 75% kings!
Now, that is an epic freakin'
Christmas-Hanukah-Kwanzaa gift
all rolled up into one,
considering what a thorn in
my ass cheek you've all been.
Now, why would I trust
any deal offered to me
after what you did to Jadis' people?
The hell are you talking about?
The Scavengers.
You killed them All of them.
A whole community just wiped out.
Is that how you "save" people?
[WHISPERING] Son of a bitch.
Still just me and you
even though plenty of your
people must've seen you go.
See See, it's times like this,
you realize who your true friends are.
No one's coming for you.
[WALKER GROWLING, THUDDING]
[CHUCKLES]
You must've thought about it,
clipping him yourself.
You mean when he took my wife?
Or burned my face?
[SARCASTICALLY] No.
Never thought about that.
Not once.
But you didn't because
you chose to survive
instead of focusing on past discomforts.
You are an adult.
You did what you had to to live.
And yet our leader
is not doing the same.
If it was my call
we'd say enough.
We'd branch out, we'd find new places,
we'd make new relationships.
We'd make sure the Saviors survive,
as you chose to.
And we'd move on from
past discomforts as you
wisely chose to.
[CHUCKLES]
Well, here I am,
my nuts blowin' in the breeze,
naked as a jaybird.
What do you say?
Just move on?
Just move on.
[SIGHS]
[LIQUID SPLASHING]
Could be his.
Or the bucket he brought with him.
He could be anywhere, alive or dead.
Somewhere in between.
Just 'cause he walked away
doesn't mean he's breathing.
We can keep looking,
maybe find him more alive than dead,
but then what?
We could face a distasteful moment.
Or we could walk away.
Get back to our people
and make things even better.
This is a critical point
in our history, Dwight.
This is something we could
tell our grandkids about.
[WALKER GROWLING IN DISTANCE]
[LIGHTER CLICKS]
[WALKER GROWLING]
Good answer.
[GROWLING CONTINUES]
[DOOR CREAKS]
The handoff horn started up
but no confirmation hits.
Saviors could've slowed their roll.
Let 'em. We'll slow 'em down more.
That's good.
Be dark soon.
Get people ready.
You know what to do.
We should make the deal and let them go
before the Saviors get here.
I can't let her go,
not with what they have.
I got too many mouths to feed.
They've quite of food in that van.
People here could be starving soon.
Maggie's right.
We take their stuff.
Otherwise, someone else will.
Someone else will kill them.
It's a miracle they're
still alive, anyways.
The Saviors are on their way.
We're gonna fight, and
some of us will die,
so why should we give a shit
about people who don't give
a shit about themselves?
I mean, out there, living like that?
We take their stuff, and we use it.
We stop pretending that
things just work out.
They don't.
Carl rescued Siddiq,
and now we have doctor,
and we have a friend.
Carl was brave.
[VOICE BREAKING] And now he's dead.
Step back.
[DOOR CREAKS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
MAGGIE: Things don't just work out.
No.
No, they don't.
But I think he knew that.
He didn't give up on who
Rick wanted him to be.
And we can't
on who he wanted us to be.
We can't.
RICK: What you have
oh, that was never gonna last.
Sooner or later,
you were gonna meet someone like me.
You can't save me
or my people or even yours.
You can't save anyone,
because you don't care about anyone.
You use people to bring food
to sleep with you
to protect you.
The only thing you care about
is this bat.
You can't even save that.
I'll make you a deal.
I'll let you kiss her goodbye.
Don't you touch her!
[MATCH STRIKES]
[FLAMES ROAR]
Come and get her.
[WALKERS GROWLING]
- Shit, no!
- [WOOD CRACKS]
[WALKERS GROWLING]
Get your hands off of her.
[GRUNTS]
[WALKERS GROWLING]
[GRUNTS]
[GROWLING CONTINUES]
NEGAN: Goddamn psychopath
You're gonna kill us both.
Long as it's you first.
- [GROWLING CONTINUES]
- Aah!
[GROWLING CONTINUES]
[GRUNTS]
[GROWLING CONTINUES]
[GLASS SHATTERS]
[GROWLING CONTINUES]
[GLASS SHATTERS]
[GROWLING CONTINUES]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION IN DISTANCE]
[DOOR CREAKS]
No spoken word?
I'm agreeing to your deal.
We'll fill your four
crates, then you can go.
You're gonna want that
to be sooner than later.
I accept.
But I'm changing the terms.
This one, no more.
In addition,
you can have a sizeable
portion of my food stores.
From the looks of things around here,
you need it far more than we do.
You're giving us food?
In exchange for what?
Records and good faith.
To be clear,
this isn't a gift, it's barter.
I'll be back.
Maybe not for a while, but I will,
and by then, I expect great things.
Here
is the aforementioned key to a future.
Inside, there are handwritten
plans for windmills,
watermills, silos,
hand-drawn schematics,
guides to refining grain,
creating lumber, aqueducts
A book of medieval human achievement
so we may have a future from our past.
Yes, I know, the
originals are in my head,
but I made photocopies.
Still, it's been an evolving document
since the copy shop.
Thank you.
Build this place up.
I want those other crates
filled when I get back
Cheeses for Hilda, pickles for Midge.
We'll see what we can do.
You will.
[VAN DOORS OPEN, CLOSE]
[ENGINE STARTS]
[VAN DEPARTING]
[GATE CREAKS, CLOSES]
I killed Natania.
She was out there trying to
kill anyone she came across,
and we came across her.
So I killed her, and I'm alive,
and Carl saved someone, and he's dead.
How the hell are we supposed to do this?
Are we supposed to just stop fighting?
[HAMMERING IN DISTANCE]
I don't think Carl wanted us
to stop fighting for our future.
But I think he was telling
us that, to get to our future,
it's gonna take more than just fighting.
The Saviors are coming right now.
And we're gonna fight them.
But there's gotta be something after.
[CHATTER]
MAN: He's not with them.
[CHATTER CONTINUES]
Where's Negan?
Gone.
You couldn't find him?
Just blood.
Now what, hmm?
What are we supposed to do now?
Who are you?
Negan.
Who?!
Negan!
I am Negan!
Damn right you are!
We all are!
Don't matter if the big man ain't here.
We're still Negan.
We don't know if he's "gone" gone.
He could very well be back.
Our plan Negan's plan
Was to go on to Hilltop
and put the fear of God in these people
so that, finally, once and for all,
they get with the program.
But after what just happened,
what they did to Negan,
that tells me that what we
need from them is beyond them.
It's time we come to accept that.
And once we do, it'll
become crystal clear
there's only one thing
left for us to do.
We must expunge them.
We must redact them!
They are a mistake
that we shall now erase.
We are moving on.
For Negan!
Yes?
ALL: For Negan!
[SIGHS]
[CHUCKLES]
Well, shit.
Shut up.